Finding Speakers And Experts

Other than the topics, the main attraction of every seminar is the speaker. Seminars are such big business these days that sometimes, the personality of the speaker is the bigger draw. When so much rides on who leads your seminar, it's important that you put some effort and research in finding speakers and experts.

Selecting Speakers

Unlike trainers, seminar speakers are not required to get certifications, unless they will be dealing with a specialized subject matter. You'll want a speaker who has the background, experience, reputation and expertise that will sell the seminar and help it succeed. Don't focus too much on the fees the speaker is charging. Someone who charges a low rate does so for a reason. The question here is: why? Often, in the seminar business, the quality of a speaker is directly proportional to how much he charges. Not always but often. So do be careful.

Find Out About Your Speaker's Experience.

An experienced speaker is confident, capable of keeping the audience's attention and delivering a terrific lecture. Do some research about your speaker like how long he has been speaking at seminars, what types of seminars he has conducted in the past, what industry or subject areas he focuses in and the degree of success he's had.

Where To Find Speakers And Experts For Your Seminar

Start with locally-based speakers. If you will be conducting your seminar in the same area, look for speakers who live in the vicinity. The benefit here is two-fold; it's a lot easier to get in touch with them personally and there is no need for you to pay more for travel expenses and accommodations. That way you can keep the seminar rates low, attract more people and still earn a good profit.

You might also want to go co-op. Check with your local convention bureau and seminar planners if there are speakers who might be available on your preferred dates. It's common for speakers to handle two or three seminars in the same area, usually with different topics.